Thanks so much for all of your fabulous feedback!
A quick note about my "rant" from last chapter: a few of you seemed to "misapprehend" my meaning. I didn't mean that I dislike the new season. It has many good points and many funny moments! I just meant that the overall feel of the show is different. It feels darker. The lighting is different, they're doing more "singles" and closeup shots, and Castle (the man, as in Richard Castle) isn't his usual happy, goofy self. This change makes sense, as some of you pointed out, in light of everything that's been going on between Castle and Beckett and with Roy's death. I REALLY hope it's a deliberate change and not some dissatisfaction or issue on Nathan Fillion's part. I'm not inclined to believe that, since he's always embodied his characters to such and extraordinary degree...hope I'm right. Anyway, it sounds like some potentially wonderful episodes are coming up and I'm looking forward to these and the return of the lighter feel we're used to.
That is all. Love y'all bunches...
Chapter 10: The Waiting Room
The forty eight hours after Castle's surgery passed in a blur. Martha, Kate and Alexis remained by his side constantly, leaving only for the occasional shower or food break. Lanie and the boys came by as often as they could, swinging in to ask about Castle's condition and lighten the mood as only they were able. Several friends from the 12th dropped in as well, usually bringing flowers, eccentric Castle-worthy gifts, or food for the three women. Even Jim Beckett made an appearance, though he came to check on his daughter as much as Castle.
Josh had called several more times, but Kate had yet to respond. She knew she had to end things, but didn't want to do it over the phone. And she wasn't planning on leaving Castle's side until he was at least awake and talking.
"Billy the Kid" Wharton was gone, having been escorted to solitary confinement in federal prison the day before. There he would await trial on a list of charges: murder, kidnapping, assault, communicating threats, and a couple of others Kate couldn't really recall at that moment. With Wharton safely behind bars and far, far away from Castle, Kate felt she could breathe at least a bit more freely.
She was exhausted. Though she was sleeping some, the constant beeps, whirrs and clicks of the machines and the barrage of intrusions from nurses ensured that none of the room's occupants -except for Castle- got more than a few consecutive hours of rest. Not to mention the fact that her limited sleep took place in that uncomfortable chair, slumped forward with her head on the mattress by Castle's side and her hand in his. Her neck ached, her back was sore, and her ankle throbbed from the injury for which she still hadn't sought treatment. It was silly and insignificant, Kate felt, in comparison to what Rick was up against.
Martha and Alexis were faring no better. The teen seemed to have aged drastically in the past week, her mood brightening only during the brief visits from her boyfriend. Martha, who was minus her usual coat of makeup and lively wardrobe, looked her age for the first time in Kate's memory. It was hard to believe it had been only five days since Kate had received that fateful call from Alexis. It seemed a lifetime ago.
They passed the time watching soap operas on the tiny TV that was mounted to the wall over the bathroom door. Temptation Lane was a favorite, of course, and Martha shared countless stories of her adventurous three weeks on the set. Kate couldn't help but see the comparison between the soap and her life at the moment. Here she sat, waiting by the bedside of the man she loved, who was in a coma after being kidnapped, and avoiding calls from her boyfriend, whom she did not love. What a shit show.
Not to mention the fact that Castle's doctor -whose arrival the women were impatiently awaiting- looked exactly like the kind of doctor you'd expect to see on a soap opera: tall, tan, blonde, busty and beautiful. She seemed more than competent, though, and was perfectly kind, so Kate couldn't find a legitimate reason to dislike her. It wasn't as if Castle was able to make goo-goo eyes at her at the moment, anyway.
As if on cue, Dr. Christine Schmidt knocked twice on the door and strode confidently into the room, a perfect smile plastered on her flawless face. Martha and Alexis sat up straighter as Kate abandoned her own chair in favor of the foot of Castle's bed. All three women fidgeted in anticipation.
"Good afternoon, ladies" said Dr. Schmidt, closing the door and taking the seat Kate had just vacated. She appraised them all in turn, her expression not judgmental but caring. "How're you guys holding up?"
"We're okay" said Alexis, shifting nervously.
Martha took the words from Kate's mouth. "We're concerned about Richard, mainly.''
"I'm sure you are." Dr. Schmidt smiled kindly. "I know it probably doesn't seem this way to you, but Mr. Castle is improving. The swelling is going down, his cuts are healing nicely, as is the wound in his shoulder."
Kate had noticed that Dr. Schmidt avoided the words "stab" and "knife" and "beating," though she couldn't understand why. Perhaps the doctor was afraid that the terms would traumatize the family further? If that was the case, she had no idea who she was dealing with: one homicide detective and two women who lived with Richard Castle, Master of the Macabre. Little phrases like "stab wound" were not likely to bother them.
There was some truth to the doctor's words, though. Rick's face wasn't nearly as puffy as it had been when Kate first saw him, and his bruises were beginning to fade slightly. They had all been a deep, gruesome blackish purple when Kate first entered the room but some were now more of a greenish blue color.
Dr. Schmidt had paused to allow the women the opportunity to appraise Castle's appearance for themselves. When she had their attention once again, she continued. "As I said, he is improving. Actually, he's healing faster than I expected him to, given the level of trauma." The doctor sounded surprised, but pleased. "It certainly helped that Mr. Castle was in excellent health before all of this. And he's been lucky: no major infection, so far.
"That being said, I'm afraid Mr. Castle won't be back to normal for quite some time. His shoulder will require extensive physical therapy in order to regain full range of motion. His right arm should heal within the next month, but the left…" The doctor shook her beautiful head almost mournfully. "I'll be surprised if it doesn't require additional surgery. And then there's the matter of his chest wounds. Even one bruised or broken rib is extremely painful, and Mr. Castle has eight. The laceration on his diaphragm is healing nicely, as are his liver and kidney, but there's still a significant amount of edema -swelling- in his lungs."
"W-what does that mean?" Alexis asked, her voice shaking.
"It means that when we start weaning your dad off of the medications and remove him from the ventilator, he's going to be in a lot of pain" said Dr. Schmidt. Her words were blunt but her tone kind. ''Now, we will be able give him narcotics to reduce that pain to some extent, but we can't give enough to get rid of it."
"Why is that?" Martha inquired.
"Narcotics, morphine especially, tend to suppress your breathing" the doctor explained. "Since your son's lung function is well below optimal, we don't want to do that." Martha nodded in understanding. "So we're at a bit of a crossroads, here" said Dr. Schmidt. "You essentially have two choices: go ahead and start taking Mr. Castle off of the ventilator, or wait a while longer. There are pros and cons to both."
"Such as?" Kate asked, though it probably wasn't her place.
The doctor appeared unphased. "Well, if we take him off the vent, as I said, he'll be in a great deal of pain. There's also the chance that he may not be ready to breathe effectively on his own. However, leaving him on the vent carries a number of risks: pneumonia, muscle atrophy, a list of drug side effects as long as my arm…Let's just say, the longer we leave him on the vent, the weaker he'll be when he comes off and the longer it's likely to take him to fully recover."
Martha, Kate and Alexis exchanged nervous, apprehensive looks. The last thing they wanted was to see him in pain, but they wanted to do what was best in the long term. And, selfishly, they needed to see him awake and talking. This utterly still and silent version of Castle was unnerving.
"What do you recommend, Doctor?" Martha asked.
"I tend to lean toward going ahead and taking him off" said Dr. Schmidt. "In addition to the benefits I just mentioned, we'll be able to more fully assess his condition when he's awake. Which is beneficial for everyone."
Decision made. Now, all they could do was wait.
Castle finally started waking up just before nine the next morning. Heartened by the knowledge that he would be back among the living soon, Kate and Alexis were laughing at one of Martha's wilder tales of Broadway's behind-the-scenes drama. Kate was crammed into the small vacant space at the foot of the bed, sitting indian-style, while Martha and Alexis sat squished together on the minuscule couch.
That's when Castle's leg moved.
"Castle?" Kate choked out. She climbed gracelessly from the bed and moved to stand next to his head as Martha and Alexis did the same on the opposite side of the bed.
For several moments no part of the writer's body moved but his chest, rising and falling rhythmically without assistance, and Kate began to think that she had imagined the movement. Or perhaps it had been a fluke? Not ready to give up yet, Kate grasped his fingers and gave a gentle squeeze.
He squeezed back.
Then his eyes opened.
The three women around the bed breathed a collective sigh of relief as Castle glanced at each of them in turn, his blue eyes still clouded slightly from the residual drugs. The corners of his mouth turned slightly upward. Then he took a breath and groaned.
''Oh, fuck" Castle rasped, his voice like sandpaper. "Did I get hit by a train?"
The women laughed. What else could they do? Kate pressed the nurse's call button while Martha poured her son a cup of water from the pitcher on the bedside table.
"Thanks" he croaked, taking a sip. "Alexis, you okay?"
"Am I okay?" His daughter retorted "Dad, seriously? You were kidnapped, beaten, stabbed, had surgery, got put in a coma…and you're asking if I'm okay?"
"Well…yeah.'' Castle's befuddled, sheepish look was nothing short of adorable.
Alexis laughed, a sound of pure relief. "Yeah, Dad, I'm fine. Now that you're awake, I mean."
"Sorry, Pumpkin." Alexis merely squeezed her father's fingers. "Mother, you alright? Didn't burn down the loft or anything?"
"Of course, darling" said Martha, easily adopting their usual banter. She did lean over, though, and kiss his cheek, her eyes slightly misty. "How are you feeling, Richard?"
Castle let out a breathy laugh, then winced. "Honestly? Awful.'' Castle's speech was much more sluggish than normal, his vocabulary markedly less eloquent, and his words ever-so-slightly slurred. But Kate thought it was the most beautiful sound ever to grace her ears.
Martha glanced at the doorway. "Where on earth is that nurse? I'm sure she'll give you some medication for the pain. And Dr. Schmidt will want to check in, I'm sure." The actress grasped her granddaughter's hand and tugged her toward the door. "Come on, Alexis, let's see if we can find someone."
Alexis glanced between her grandmother and father, eyes wide with protest. "But-"
"Come along, darling" Martha interrupted, dragging Alexis to the door.
Kate smiled, and turned to find Castle doing the same. "Subtlety is not my mother's strong suit." His voice was raspy and quiet, almost a whisper, but the familiar teasing intonation was gradually returning. He squeezed Kate's fingers, which she hadn't realized were still linked with the writer's. "Don't take this the wrong way, but you look terrible."
Kate couldn't even find the energy for a patented Beckett glare, so she merely smiled in answer. "Yeah, well, you're not looking your best either Mr. Cosmo cover boy. And somebody had to track you down and keep your mom and daughter company. You haven't been very entertaining recently."
She meant for her comments to be light and teasing, but Castle's brow only furrowed more deeply. "You've been here the whole time?"
''I went home to shower and change a couple of times, but…" She shrugged. "Mostly, yeah."
Castle got one of those looks on his face, the one he always got when there was something he wanted to say but was holding back, the one that was equal parts fearful and adoring. He tore his eyes away for a moment, cleared his throat, winced, and then spoke again. "How long was I out?"
"A little over two days."
"And Bill?" Castle looked hesitant, and more fearful than Kate had ever seen him. She squeezed his fingers in reassurance.
"William Wharton, AKA Bill, is spending some quality time in solitary at the federal prison upstate. Sorenson and some guys from the 12th caught up with him right about the time the boys and I found you."
"Good…that's-" It obviously took a moment for Castle's drug-addled brain to catch up. "Sorenson? Mr. FBI Sorenson?"
"That's the one. He volunteered to help us find you."
"Oh."
They were both silent for a moment. Castle was clearly debating something, he kept opening his mouth to speak and then snapping it closed again. Kate was having an internal argument of her own, as it happened.
"Rick, I-"
The door swung open, interrupting. Dr. Schmidt and Reese, one of Castle's nurses, strode in. The Castle women followed closely behind. It figured, Kate thought, that the words she had been trying to work up the nerve to say would be interrupted by the arrival of a leggy blonde.
But Castle didn't even seem to notice the beautiful Dr. Schmidt or the attractive brunette nurse. He answered their questions, of course, and assisted with the examination as best he could in his condition, but the writer's eyes never strayed from Kate.
Castle was in agony. He had stayed awake for all of an hour that morning, slept for another three, and had since managed to remain alert for the better part of the afternoon. He was doing an admirable job of hiding his distress, but Kate knew him too well. She could see it in his eyes, in the way he would stiffen with the most minuscule movement, in his slow, measured, cautious breathing. There was a sort of desperation starting to build beneath Rick's stoic facade.
"Martha, Alexis, why don't you go back to the loft for a while?" Kate suggested. "You should get some sleep. In a real bed."
"Aren't you tired, Kate? You can go, if you want." Alexis offered.
Kate shook her head, holding up her half-empty coffee cup. "I'm good for a while. I'll just go when you come back."
"Is it okay, Dad?" Alexis inquired, apprehensive. Kate knew Alexis didn't want to leave her father, and Kate didn't blame the girl, but she had a sneaking suspicion that Castle's act was primarily for his daughter's benefit. "You'll be okay if we go for a little while?"
"Sure, sweetie" said Castle, smiling. It didn't cut through the pain in his eyes, though. "I'll be fine. You girls get some rest."
"Alright, darling" said Martha, kissing her son and then Kate on the cheek. "Call if you need anything at all, though? Either of you?"
"Thanks, Martha" said Kate.
Alexis kissed her father's cheek and followed her grandmother through the door. As soon as the women were out of sight, Castle slumped back onto his pillows and exhaled shakily, closing his eyes.
"What hurts, Rick?" Kate asked.
Castle scoffed. "What doesn't?"
Kate moved from her chair to the mattress, perching by Rick's hip with her legs dangling toward the floor. "Okay, what doesn't hurt?"
Castle's eyes cracked open. "Is this gonna be one of those Indiana Jones moments?"
"If you didn't look so pitiful right about now I'd smack you" Kate replied with a teasing glare. "You should take some more morphine"
"Ugh" Castle grunted, glancing at the morphine pump which was occupying the ventilator's former position. He could push a button every half hour to get a shot of the drug directly into his IV line, but so far he had resisted using it. "I hate that crap. I never was a fan of being high" he admitted, meeting Kate's eyes again.
"Are you a fan of being in excruciating pain?" Kate shot back. "Because I'm not a fan of seeing you in it." She held out the button, eyebrows raised.
Castle sighed. "Fine, push the damn thing."
She did so, and took a sip of her coffee. "Can I have some of that?"
"Castle-"
"Come on, Beckett, it's just coffee." Rick whined. Kate appraised him. "I was kidnapped. And in a coma. Please?"
"Don't think that excuse is gonna work on me forever" said Kate, grabbing a straw and holding the cup to his lips, since Rick couldn't bend his elbows. He took an appreciative sip, his eyes never leaving Kate's.
"Uh, am I interrupting something?" said a familiar voice from the doorway.
"Sorenson" said Castle, surprised, just as Kate said
"Will" in the same tone. She took stock of her position: sitting on the edge of Castle's bed, leaning over his body, with his cast-covered hand nearly touching her thigh. She quickly sat up straighter.
"I heard you were awake," said Will, striding into the room, "thought I'd come by and see how you were doing."
Castle shrugged. "I've been better."
"You've looked better" said Will, smiling.
Castle laughed, then winced. "So I've been told." He swallowed hard. "Listen, thanks. I hear you took Wharton down, and helped find me."
Will shrugged. "Just doing my job."
"Still" said Rick in his most sincere tone, "thanks." Kate squeezed his pinkie with her own, then gave in and laced their fingers together.
Sorenson nodded. "You're welcome."
At that moment a third male strode into the room: a very tall, very dark, very handsome surgeon Kate had been avoiding for the better part of the week. And he looked none too happy.
"Kate?" Josh snapped.
"Josh!" Kate exclaimed.
"Oh, this is just fantastic" Castle groaned.
"Who are you?" Josh demanded, turning his attention to Will.
"Will Sorenson, FBI. Who are you?"
"Dr. Josh Davidson, Kate's boyfriend." Josh turned on Kate, jerking a thumb in Will's direction. "Isn't he your ex?"
"Yes" Will answered for her. "You have a boyfriend?" he asked Kate.
"You didn't even tell him about me?" Josh demanded, before turning on Rick. "And what the hell do you think you're doing, Castle? Holding her hand?"
Kate looked down at her hand. Yep, still joined with Rick's. She gave him a minuscule squeeze and then released her hold. "I-"
"Kate, what the hell is going on, here?" Josh practically shouted.
"Hey!" Will stepped in. "Calm down, man. Kate's been through a lot in the past few days, alright? And so has Castle, obviously. Take it easy."
"Look, back off, okay?" Josh snapped, "This has nothing to do with you."
"Not that I'm not enjoying this incredibly awkward situation" Castle rasped tiredly, "but can we maybe not do this now?"
"I'm not the one holding hands with someone else's girlfriend, Castle" Josh shot back.
Rick lifted his head off of the pillow as best he could. "I don't remember inviting you in here…in fact I'm pretty sure I didn't."
"Look, Castle, I'm sorry you're hurt, okay, but-"
Rick scoffed. "No you're not. You don't even like me."
Josh scowled. "That doesn't mean I wanted you to get hurt. But-"
"Last time I saw you, you shoved me into a wall!"
"He what now?" Will asked, bewildered.
"That doesn't give you the right to-"
"HEY!" Kate shouted, and silence fell in the room instantly. Two sets of blue and one set of brown eyes were fixed on her as she stood, squaring her shoulders. "Josh, you were right. You and I need to talk. Will, would you mind staying with Rick for a few minutes?''
"I don't need a babysitter" Castle muttered. Kate shot him a look. "Fine" he said, though he looked none too happy about it.
"Yeah, I'll stay" said Will, still obviously confused and a bit uncomfortable.
"Thank you. Come on, Josh" Kate snapped, and strode from the room without waiting to see if he was following.
I hope that was okay... Let me know!